Rodallega flicks neatly, but the home side are struggling to keep the ball and they lose it again here. No harm, done, though, as Riether makes a good challenge.

35'

Ten minutes until the break in what has been a thoroughly entertaining match so far.

35'

Nani jinks down the left, but his cross is perfect only for someone sitting about seven rows back in the Hammersmith End.

34'

Hangeland produces a commanding header to get rid of any threat from Van Persie's flag-kick.

33'

That would have been a gem of a goal - United storm back again to win a corner from their right.

33'

United hit the post - again: Nani plays the ball to Cleverley, who lays it back to Rooney. His shot is a beauty, curled from the edge of the area, and thuds against Schwarzer's far post.

32'

Riise denies Rafael as he tries to make progress on the United right.

32'

...and indeed he doesn't. He's back in the fray.

31'

Evra is down after a challenge and receives a spot of treatment. Looks as though he shouldn't have a problem, though.

30'

It's all calmed down a bit after that frenetic first 15 minutes or so, and Fulham, with half an hour gone, will be pretty pleased with how they are doing.

30'

Evra is robbed by Dejagah as he tries to get down the left, and then fouls the Fulham man.

29'

As United come forward, Rooney causes problems on the edge of the area and Fulham blast the loose ball away with Van Persie lurking.

28'

Duff takes, and Van Persie is there to head clear. Duff crosses again, and this time it's Rooney with the clearance.

28'

From it, the Cottagers win a corner...

27'

Having said that, here's a little spell of Fulham possession. They look for Rodallega down the right. The crowd feel he's been fouled by Ferdinand, but it's a throw, not a free-kick.

26'

...and again Fulham stand firm, but they are being forced further and further back as time goes on.

26'

It comes to nothing, but the visitors can build again as Ferdinand plays it forward. Now Evra comes down the left-hand side...

25'

A good touch by Rooney brings the ball under control in midfield, United move into the area and Fulham are forced to scramble clear for a corner...

24'

United, slowly but surely, are beginning to take control of possession here.

23'

Van Persie plays it into the area, Rooney gets there and Fulham clear.

22'

Ruiz, in a crowded midfield, tries a flick that doesn't come off. Then Cleverley is fouled, and it's a United free-kick.

22'

Forward come Fulham, and win a throw midway inside United territory. Riise takes it, but United win it back.

21'

Foul by Nani on Karagounis inside the Fulham half - free-kick to the home side.

20'

Lovely football that from United, and a collective sigh of relief from Fulham

19'

Carrick, Van Persie and Rooney combine, and the latter hits a low shot from just inside the area. It is fractionally, fractionally wide.

18'

There's a tremendous pace to this game so far, and you feel there are goals in it for both teams.

18'

Dejagah gets the ball after a scramble and has a blast from the edge of the area. That's not at all far away, and De Gea would have been beaten.

17'

...Rooney gets the ball and tumbles in the area. No penalty, says the referee, and Rooney isn't too thrilled by that decision.

16'

It's all happening. Now Evra charges forward for United...

15'

Almost an own goal: Hangeland, having made such a good clearance, gets to the corner and sees his deflection cannon off the junction of post and bar.

15'

Straight to the other end, where Hangeland produces an excellent clearance as United close in on goal.

14'

Fulham hit the post: Ruiz fires in a fine effort, and it cannons off the inside of the post and out to safety.

13'

Nani does well to keep an awkward ball in play down the left, but his cross is cleared.

13'

A good start to this game - lively fare, and Fulham are giving as good as they're getting.

13'

United counter and Riise stars again, winning the ball and putting it out for a United throw.

12'

An absolute screamer on the half-volley by Riise, just outside the area. It forces De Gea into a good tip-over, and he then claims the corner.

11'

United play the ball around at the back - but then move forward rapidly. Rafael crosses, the clearance is ineffective, and Rooney, from the edge of the area, sees his shot blocked.

10'

Dejagah goes on a good run and tries to feed the ball through into the United penalty area, but it's cut out.

9'

The reaction stop from the Fulham man was a good one - Evra was stretching, but should still have found the target with his follow-up.

9'

United should have scored. Schwarzer saves from Nani and Evra, on the stretch, hit the bar. An early warning sign.

8'

Not for long, though. United win another corner, from the right, this time.

7'

...and Fulham stand firm, clearing their lines effectively.

7'

What can they produce from this? Rooney will take...

7'

Corner for United - Nani plays it in, Baird gets in the way.

6'

Schwarzer goes long with a goal-kick and Ruiz tries to get away on the right. He fouls Jonny Evans after losing the ball, and that's a crystal-clear free-kick to United.

5'

The first break of the game from Fulham, and it could have been a devastating one.

4'

But then Rodallega springs the offside trap and cuts the ball back towards Dejagah, whose effort is blocked.

3'

Van Persie picks up the midfield pieces, but loses them again - a bit of a shapeless start.

3'

Rooney, down the left, can't keep the ball in and that's a throw to Fulham in their own half.

2'

Fulham play it long, but Rio Ferdinand is there to head clear for United.

2'

Karagounis is felled in midfield - free-kick Fulham.

1'

Karagounis and Baird get it away to Ruiz, who can't control it and United come forward again.

1'

Fulham get things going, but United soon win possession back and get a throw-in inside the home side's half.

The handshaking ritual is almost done, and we'll be under way very shortly indeed.

Out come the teams, and there's a good noise inside the Cottage.

A little over five minutes to kick-off, and this should be an entertaining evening down by the River Thames.

For the league leaders, Nani is back in the line-up - his first start since the end of September.

But the Cottagers are without main man Dimitar Berbatov, out through injury, and any team at all would have their work cut out trying to keep United's abundance of attacking threats quiet.

It's not always easy to know just what to expect from Fulham, whose blistering start to the season seems a distant memory now. But they got three much-needed points against West Ham here last time out, and there's no questioning the ability they possess.